Automatic stop cock



Nov. 5, 1929. McEwAN 1,734,687

AUTOMATIC STOP COCK Filed Sept. 50. 1926 2 Sheets-sheaf. 1

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AUTOMATIC STOP COCK I Filed Sept. 30. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mlrevvJMc reducing action.

Patented Nov. 5, 1929 7 ANDREW J. MCEWAN, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA AUTOMATIC STOP COCK Application filed. September 30, 1928. Serial No. 138,781.

This invention relates to automatic stop cocks for fluid pressure flow lines, such, for example, as those of oil and gas wells. 7

In order to maintain an oil and gas well in proper flowing condition for the raising of the oil to the surface, it is desirable to check or stop the flow of gas at intervals in orderto build up the pressure of the gas and utilize its force for an oil raising action.

This has usually been accomplished heretofore by the use of a hand cock in a pipe line leading from the well, which practice is open to many objections. In some instances automatic stop cocks have been used for the purpose, these usually consisting of modified Tweighteddever 'fluid pressure regulating valves, but these have been found ineflicient,

because of the inability to secure a proper and reliable valve closing action succeeding each pressure releasing action.

v The main object of my invention is to pro vide an automatic pressure controlled. stop cock or valve; which may beset to allow the gas pressure to build up to a desired. degree,

and which will then release the pressure; and

permit it to fall to any predetermined degree, and which will then establish a positive cut off action toallow the pressure to again build up for a succeeding oil raising and pressure .7 Another objectofthe invention is top ro vide a valve having a desirable retarding ace tion to prevent closing of the valve after it,- has been opened'until the pressure has been reduced tothe proper point, and whichwill" then positively close for the succeeding pressure building up action.

Still another object oft-he invention is to provide an automatic stopvalve or cock which 49 is simple of construction, reliable and effi cient inactionyand' adapted-to be made, in-' stalled and kept in workingrorder at a comparatively low cost;

V The inventionconsists of the features of 4 construction, comblnatlon and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and I claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which T Figure 1' is a diagrammatic section-through f the stop cock or-valve, showing the valve as applied for use. For the purpose of mak mg the operation clear,vthe valve casing is,

7 shown in section at right angles to its normal 'POSltlOIl, 1. e., to ts plane of section shown in Figure 2. v

Figure 2 1s a'vertical longitudinal section through the stop cook or valve, showing the valve casing in its proper relation in such a,

view to the remainderof the device. .7 r

Inrarrying my invention into practice. I provide an automatic stop cock or valve com prising a valve casing 1 and a lever casing 2, the latter extending longitudinallyfrom the valve casing and communicating at its inner end with the latter through a port or passage The valve casing is provided with an outer chamber 4 and an inner chamber 5, said inner chamberbeingformedbya partition wall- 6. In one side of the partition 6 is formed a passage 7 communicating with an inlet port 8, and in the diametrically opposite side ofthe casing'is formed an outlet or discharge passage 9 communicating with the chamber 4. Openings 10 and 11 are provided at the top andbottom of-the inner chamber 5 in which are fitted valveseats 12 and'13. double valve comprising valve members 14 and 15 is provided to controlthe openings 10 and 11, the valves 1 1-15. being adapted re spectively to govern such openings and engage such. 'seats' 12 and 13;. u The valves are balanced with relation toeach other and when seated close communication between the inner chamber and outer chamber, the inner chain 7 her being, however, always in communication with the inlet 7 8 through the passage 7.. l/Vhen the'valve members are. raisedto open position, communication is established be-f tween both the ports Sand 9.. and both chambers 14' and 5'and thechamber 2, thelast-L named chamber beingalways in communication through the opening 3 with the (sham-'- ber4. V

The valve members 14 and 15 are carried by a vertically movable stem 16 which extends upwardly through the opening 3 into the inner end of the casing 2 and through.- an openingfin' a closure plate 17 engaging a threaded opening 18 in the top of the-casing,

such opening .18 being provided to permit .100

ready and convenient initial assemblage of the parts of the valve structureand allow access'thereto for repairs or other' purposes, Secured to this plate 1? is a bonnet 19 having a threaded opening 20 at its upper end receiving an adjustable stem 21 adapted to be secured in adjusted position by a securing-nut V 22 and carrying at its lower end an abutment head or flange 23. secu ed to the'upper end of the valve stem 16 is a guide cage orcylinde'r 24: receiving andmoving in guided con-1- nection with the head or flange 23 of stem 21 andenclosing a pressure spring 25 disposed between the abutment flange and bottom of the cage and adapted'to exerta'downward' pressure on thevalve stem for avalve closing Operation. By adjustment of the abutmerit-stem 21 the tension. or working pressure of thisspring 25 may 'be regulated, aswill be readily understood.

Arranged ,u in the easing 2 and extending longitudinally thereof is a valve controlling 1 level 26 which. is pivotally coupled at its inner end tothe vaLve stein, as indicated at 27. This lever. passes, intern edi ately of it's length, through an opening inthe roller bearing 28 which is journaled in a fulcrum i blocli 29 the roller 28 and block 29ifor1ning" ashiftingfulcrum for the lever 26 whereby the effective lengths and-power ratios of its armsextending on opposite sides of the ful-.

' crum maybe; varied. A; rod 30 is secured at one end to the fulcrumblock andextends at its'opposite' end outwardly through a stuf:

terior o f tl'ie casing whenever it wiso,desired to vary the power action ot the lever. I

- cliamberw2at its @top isacylinder 32 in which operates a pis ton'33', and communicatingwith theouter end efthe chamber 2 at its bottom" is'ja diaphrag n chamber 34 containing weighted diaphragm. 2,5, Rods 36; and, 37

respectively connect :thezpi'stons v33 and V the? diaphragm 35 with the outer endof the lever 26, said rods being connected with the lever by nieansota piin-bolt or other-suitablefasr tening, 38." l The piston 33,- diaphragm .35,

lever, 26 -and spring25 provide a system of 1 controlling Inechanismr governing the opera- 'tion of the ,valves 14%15, the spring 251 operating to hold thevalve seated or closedragainst' any predetermined pressure, while the piston 23. acts as a. power agentto fOrcethevalvG open against the resistance of the spring? when; such; predetermined pressure is Texspring and to'hold it [open until, thepres- '[sure has fallento apredetermined degree.

' Figurel shows diagrammatlcally and in chamber e'and are therefore, when the valve disposed, the pipe 39 constituting a high pres sure pipe leading from f well and com municating with the inlet port 8, and the pipe 40 constituting alow pressure pipe comm'uni.-

cating with the'outlet port 9 and leading in practice to any suitable-point at whichthe released gas and oil is to be delivered; It will be observed that the lower side of the piston and upper sideot the diaphragm 35 are in constant"communication with valve 1 l+15 is, closed, in communication with the low pressure ,pipeeO and'subjected tothe force of whatever pressure there be therein, When the valve 14,-15 is opened for a pressure relieving action, co-Inmunicationis established between the high and low pressure pipe, both chambers of the valve and-the casing 2', so'that the lower side of the PIStOH 32 and upper side ofthe diaphragm 35 are subjected tothe pressure inboth sides of the pipe line, whatever itniay be. v Aby-pass pipe 4-1 is .provided'for connecting the outer end of the cylinder 32 with the passage 7 or someother-suitable part of the gas conduit at the high'pressui'e s ide ofthe' valve,'solthat 1 the upper face of thepiston 33 will. beconstantly exposed to thepressure-in the .pipe 7 V 39 whatever itkmay be;

.In practice vlt-lnaybe assumedthat the spring 25 has a valve closing pressuresufii fcient to hold thefvalve closed, against 'the'highpressure trom' pip e 39 acting on the outerface ofthejfpiston 33',- until a predeter-j v p minedhigh pressure,sayYazpre'ssure oflOO Communicating w ith the outerend otthe,

lbs., is reached inthe high pressure pipe 39" between the valve and the wellto be controlled. 'Thegas and: oil flowing from the well may therefore continue te-flow between the well and I the control valve until the pres;-

opening actions of the piston 33. being sup- V plemented, assoonas' the valve sopened to 1 7 any extent, by the force o'fthe released hi pressure filling the valve, casing and. lever '7 casing'andall parts'ofthefs'ystern and where-Y V bythe diaphragm 35 is depressed initsca'sing 3d and exerts adownward-pull on-the outer 7 7 endio'f the lever 26. Thevalvel l lo will ceeded, and the. diaphragm 35-operates=upon the opening of the valve as "a retarding, de vice to-preventclosing oi -the valve loyv the thus be opened for the sewer gas from pipe the pressure j of athe spring 25,:whichfnow is; 7 39 into pipeAQ and will-be held open against f jpreponderatesinfforce over the-piston 33,; r y by the action of the diaphragm 35, such dia phragin acting as aretarderunder thepres-f any liquids finding their way through the ton 33 tohold the valve open against the action" of the closing spring until the pressure in the pipe linehas fallento the predeter mined low degree.

The powers of these forces, namely, the spring, the piston and the diaphragm, controlling the action of the Valve with'or in'the absence of any material amount of fluid pressure, are so correlated, or adjusted with relation'to each other, that the retarder maintains control as against a final valve closing action until the pressure in the pipe line has fallen to a very low degree, or is negllgible so far as its worklng pressure on the valve elements is concerned,

, whereupon the valve will close under the ac tion of the spring in a positive, certain and reliable manner and out off communication between the pipes 39 and 40. Pressure will then be allowed to again buildup in the pipe 39 until the minimum predetermined pressure therein is reached, whereupon the valve I will again be operated to allow the pressure i I claim to discharge. It will thus be seen that by the action of this valve the pressure of the gas flowing from the well may be allowed to build up to any point suitable to eflect the flow of oil from the well at predetermined periods, and then released and allowed to again build up, so that a positive building up action at more or less regular periods will be automatically effected and governed for the periodic raising of the oil from the well. It will, of course, be understood that by ad u stment of the spring and the shifting fulcrum the applied powers of the valve mechanism controlling the valve and acting with or in opposition to the flow of pressure forces may be governed and controlled to adapt the valve to operate very successfully and at wide variations of pressures within given limits.

If desired a suitable'drain pipe connection 42 may be provided between the upper portion of diaphragm chamber 34 above the diaphragm and the valve-chamber 4 to permit chamber 2 into thediaphragm chamber to such deposits with the operation ofthe diaphragm.

Having '1. In an automatic stop cock or valve for spectively, with high and low pressure sides of a pipe line, an automatically closing valve in said casing controlling said inlet and outlet, fluid pressure controlled means for opening the valve when a predetermined high' pressure in the high pressure side of theline is reached, and fluid pressure controlled means for retarding the closing ofthe valve until a predetermined low pressure in the high pressure side of the line is reached.

thuslfully' described my invention,

' sureis reached, and a fluid pressure controlled device for retarding the closing of the valve reached.

' until a predetermined high pressure is reached in the high pressure side of the pipe line, a fluid pressure actuated member exposed to the pressure-in the high pressure side of the line and'operative to open the valve against the resistance of the spring when the predetermined high pressure is reached, and a fluid pressure controlled device for retarding the closing of the valve'under the action of the spring as the pressure falls until a predetermined low pressure is reached.

3. In an automatic stop cook or valve for fluid pressure pipe lines, a valve casing having an inletand an outlet. for connection, respectively, with the high and low pressure sides of a pipe line, a valvein said casing controlling said inlet and outlet, a spring for closing the valve and holding the valve low pressureis reached. r

4;. In an automatic stop cook or valve for fluid pressure pipe lines, a valve casing having'anv inlet and an outlet for-connectlon, re-' spectively, with the high and low pressure sides of a pipe line, a valve in said casing controlling said inlet and outlet,means for closing the valve and holding the valve closed until a predetermined high pressure is reached in the high pressure side of the pipe line, a piston exposed to'the pressure in the high pressure side of the line and operative to open the valve against the resistance of the spring when the predetermined high pres} under the action of the spring as the pressure falls until a predetermined low pressure is 5, In an automatic stop cock or valve for fluid pressure pipe lines, a valvecasing having an inlet and an outlet for connection, respectively, with the high and low pressure sides of a pipeline, a valve ins'aid casing C0111 trollingsaid inlet and outlet, means for closing the valve and holding the valve closed until a predetermined high pressure is reached in the high pressure side ofth'e'line,

a fluid pressure actuated member exposed'to the pressure in the high pressure side of the line and-operative to open the valve against the action of the valve'closing ineans when the predetermined pressure ,is reached, and a diaphragm subjected when the valve is opened to tiiepressureintheline for retarding the closing of the valve until apredetermined, low "pressure isreached; V

6. In an automatic stop cock orvalve for fluid pressure pipe'lines,ja valve casing havingean inlet and an outlet for-connection, re.,

spectively, with the high and" low pressure 7 .ing an inlet and an outlet for connection, respectively, with the-high, andlow pressure sides of a pipe line, an'aiitoinatically closing valve forclosing communication between the high and low pressure sides of the pipe line until a predeterminedhigh pressure in the high pressure side isr'rea'ched, a lever fulcruined intermediate of its ends and coupled g at one-of ts ends to thevalve, a fiuid'pres' sure actuated device'act ng on the other end oi"- the ,leverfOr opening the valve when the predetermined high pressure' s reached, a

fluidipressure controlled retarder acting also f on'the second-nan'iedend ofthe lever to hold the valve open .aiteran opening movement until a predetermined low pressure in the pipe line is reached, and means for varyingv the fulcrum point of the lever.

In an automatic stop-cock or valve for fluid pressure p pes lines, a valve casing hav ing an inletand' an outlet :for connection, re spectively, withthe high and low pressure v cles'eduntil a predetermined high .pressure sides ofa pipeline, a valve'in said-casing.

controlling saidinlet and outlet, spring I,

for closing the valve and holding the valve is-reached-inthe highpressure side ofjthe pipe line, means including a piston exposed;

to the pressure in thehigh pressure side of v the pipeline for closing the valve when the 1 predeter'inined high pressure isreached, and a fluid pressurjeicontrolled diapragin acting on said'ineans, after the valve is opened for holding i the valve open; until" the pressure falls to 'a' predetermined low pressure. f

9. In an autoriiatic'stop coclr orrfvalve ITEOI" e fiuidpressurepipe lines, avalve casinghavns, spectively,with high and low: pressure sides an inlet and'an outlet for connection,.re- 1 ofapi'pe line, an automatically closing'valve.

in said casing for closing communication between the inlet and outletuntilapredetermined. high pressure in othe high pressure side of thepipe lineis reached, a clever, con-. ne'eted with said valve-,i a filllCl pressure ac tuated element coupled to said lever] and operated by fluid pressure on thehigh pres-- sure sideforopening the valve when the pre-' determined-high pressure is reached,-and a retarder coupled 1 to the lever for retarding the; closing action of the valve after a valve opening movement until the jpressurez' has fallen to apredetermined low degree.

10. In an automatic stop cock or valve for fluid pressure pipe lines, a valve casing hitV, ing-an'inlet and an outlet for connection, respectively, with high and low pressure sides of a pipe line, a valve in said casing and controlling said inletand outlet, .aspring tactfing on the valve fornormally-holding it 7 closed until a predetermined high pressure in the high pressuresideis reached, a lever,

coupled to the valve, a fluid pressure element exposed to the pressure in the high pressure side and acting in opposition vto thespring to open the valve whenia: predetermined high pressure is reached, and a fiuidpressure controlled element coupled to the'lever and'acting after theopening of the valve to, retard its closing movement and hold itfrOmQCl'OS- ing until a predetermined reduction of pres sure in the pipe line has occurred. 1

1 1. In an automatic stopcockor valve for fluid pressure pipe lines,a valve casing have ing'an inlet and an outlet for connection, respectively; with high and low pressure sides 01 a pipeline, a valve'in said casing and :con-

trolling sa'id inlet andflou'tlet, said valve' be-r I ingi adapted toaut'ornatically close under a predetermined low pr'essurefin the pipe, line. and to hold the valve closed until a p'redetermined high pressure is "reached in the liigh, f

pressure side o'i'the pipe line, a pistonoper is atively connected: with the valve and-exposed to thepressureV-in" the high ipressurefside oi the pipeline for opening the, valve when. the predetermined high pressure 'is'reached,

and a fluid .1 pressurecontrclled retarder, coupled to, the valve andexposed tOiZllST llIIG- pressurewhen theflv'alveis opened to 4oppose1 a diminishing resistance tothe closing of the valve as the pressurejfa'l'ls and adaptedlto permit the valve to close iWhenthepredeter-L minedlow pressurefis reached.

' 12. In an automaticstop-eock or valve for? fiuidpressure pipelines, avalve casing have iiig an inlet aiidan outlet for connection, re!

" spectively, with high and low pressure sides] of a pipe line,a valve in saidcasing and con- 1 trolling said inlet and outlet, a spring acting on thevalve for closing the" valve at 'pre 7 determined; low vpressure and i holding it clesed' until a predetermined high "pressure in the highjpressureside of tlie pipe lineis reached, a lever coupled to the valve, a piston subjected to the force of the fluid pressure in the high pressure side of the line and coupled to the lever for transmitting motion to the valve to open the same When the predetermined high pressure is reached, and a diaphragm coupled to the lever and exposed to line pressure when the valve is opened for opposing a retarding resistance to the closing of the valve under the pressure of the spring until the pressure is reduced to the predetermined low degree in the pipe line.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ANDREW J. MCEWAN. 

